Electrical connecting apparatus with inclined probe recess surfaces

Abstract

An electrical connecting apparatus comprises a housing having a first recess extending in a first direction in a horizontal plane, opened downward, and having at least a backside inward surface and a plurality of slits spaced in the first direction and extending in a second direction intersecting the first direction in the horizontal plane, a plurality of contacts each arranged in the housing in a state of extending inside the slit from within the first recess and electrically connecting a conductive portion provided on a board to an electrode of a device under test, and a probe holder arranged in the first recess. The backside inward surface of the first recess includes an inclined portion inclined to both the horizontal plane and a vertical plane vertical to it in a state of being further to the front side towards the upper side, and each contact abuts on the inclined portion at least at part of the back end. Thus, slip of the contact against the conductive portion is reduced.

1. An electrical connecting apparatus attached to a board and electrically connecting a conductive portion formed on said board to an electrode of a device under test, comprising:
 a housing having a first recess extending in a first direction in a horizontal plane, opened downward, and having at least a backside inward surface and a plurality of slits spaced in said first direction and extending in a second direction intersecting said first direction in said horizontal plane, wherein each slit communicates at one end portion in its longitudinal direction with said first recess and is opened at least upward and downward; 
 a plurality of contacts each arranged in said housing in a state of extending inside said slit from within said first recess, electrically connecting said conductive portion to said electrode, and each having a tip end projecting upward from said slit so as to be thrust to said electrode relatively, a back end directing to said backside inward surface, and an external surface curved and directing to said conductive portion; and 
 a probe holder arranged in said first recess and abutting on a part opposite said external surface of said contact so as to bring said external surface of said contact into contact with said conductive portion, 
 wherein said backside inward surface of said first recess includes a forward-inclined portion inclined to both said horizontal plane and a vertical plane, and a rearward-inclined portion inclined to both said horizontal plane and said vertical plane, the forward-inclined portion and the rearward-inclined portion meeting at a forward-protruding feature of said backside inward surface, and 
 wherein the back end of each of said plurality of contacts includes a forward-inclined surface that abuts and opposes said forward-inclined portion of said backside inward surface when the tip end of the respective contact is not thrust to said electrode, and includes a rearward-inclined surface that abuts and opposes said rearward-inclined portion of said backside inward surface when the tip end of said respective contact is not thrust to said electrode, the forward-inclined surface and the rearward-inclined surface forming a concave feature that abuts and opposes said forward-protruding feature of said backside inward surface when the tip end of said respective contact is not thrust to said electrode. 
 
     
     
       2. The electrical connecting apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein a corner portion on the lower side of said back end of each contact is curved in an arc. 
     
     
       3. The electrical connecting apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said housing further has a second recess opened upward and communicating at its lower end portion with the upper portion of said slit, and each contact lets said tip end project toward said second recess. 
     
     
       4. The electrical connecting apparatus according to  claim 3 , further comprising a guide plate arranged in said second recess and having an opening that guides said device under test so that said electrodes of said device under test abut on said tip ends of said contacts. 
     
     
       5. The electrical connecting apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein each contact extends in an arc inside said slit from within said first recess. 
     
     
       6. An electrical connecting apparatus attached to a board and electrically connecting a conductive portion formed on said board to an electrode of a device under test, comprising:
 a housing having a first recess extending in a first direction in a horizontal plane, opened downward, and having at least a backside inward surface and a plurality of slits spaced in said first direction and extending in a second direction intersecting said first direction in said horizontal plane, wherein each slit communicates at one end portion in its longitudinal direction with said first recess and is opened at least upward and downward; 
 a plurality of contacts each arranged in said housing in a state of extending inside said slit from within said first recess, electrically connecting said conductive portion to said electrode, and each having a tip end projecting upward from said slit so as to be thrust to said electrode relatively, a back end directing to said backside inward surface, and an external surface curved and directing to said conductive portion; and 
 a probe holder arranged in said first recess and abutting on a part opposite said external surface of said contact so as to bring said external surface of said contact into contact with said conductive portion, 
 wherein said backside inward surface of said first recess includes an inclined portion inclined to both said horizontal plane and a vertical plane vertical thereto such that the front side becomes higher, and each contact abuts on said inclined portion at least at part of said back end, and 
 wherein said first recess has on the upper side of said inclined portion a drop preventing portion preventing said contacts from dropping from said first recess in cooperation with said back ends of said contacts. 
 
     
     
       7. The electrical connecting apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein said drop preventing portion includes an engaging surface set back from the upper end of said inclined portion of said drop preventing portion such that the backside becomes higher, and each contact has at the upper portion of said inclined portion of said contact a projection projecting backward so as to be able to engage with said engaging surface.